Attaching means for artificial sets of teeth.



P .l. S. DONNELLAN. ATTACHING MEANSFOR ARTIFICIAL SETS OF'TEETH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. :20. Ian.

1,263,313.. v Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

. INVENTOR.

' div; ,5? DM/zeZZdy WITNESS f A TTORNE-YS.

JAMES S. DONNELLAN, OF SALT LAKE CITY, IPJPALI-li.

ATTACHING MEANS FOR ARTIFICIAL SETS 013 TEETH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d A 16 1918 Application filed November 20, 1917. Serial No. 202,968.

I I To all whom it may concern:

one or both rows are artificiall Be it known that I, JAMES S. DoN vnLLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attaching Means for Artificial Sets-of Teeth; and I do hereby declare the following to-be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to mechanical dentistry, and especially to improved attaching means for artificial sets of teeth, whether adjusted to the gums of the user, althoug for s1mplicity and brevity, I shall only illustrate and describe the last mentioned appllcation of use. 1

While certain advanced methods, embodying-palate suction plates, have indeed proven to be very beneficial, 1t 1s recognized that they have not been wholly adequate under varying conditions of use.

In the avoidance of their known deficlencies, the objects and advantages of my in-' vention will be clearly apparent, as 1nc1- dental t0 the following disclosure, reference being had to the accompanying'drawings,

in the several views of which- Figure 1, is a side elevational view embodying my invention as applled to an upper and a lower artificial set of teeth; Flg. 2, is a substantially similar view, but posltioned as when the lower jaw is moved' downwardly to open the mouth; Fig. 3, is a side elevational view, with the sets of teeth disposed in more convenient relation for insertion in the mouth; Fig. 4, is a sectional detail view illustrating a preferred arrangement of the attaching pins, when employed with the artificial sets of teeth, thesection being indicated as taken on the line of Fig. 3; and Figs. 5 and 6, are respectively edge and side elevational views of a slightly modified form of the coiled resilient attachment to that shown in Figs. 1 to l.

The numerals 1 and 2 respectively designate the usual upper and lower gum bases,

molded of any suitable substance or material and adapted to snugly seat over "the natural gums of the month, while 3 and 4 designate the upper and lower teeth thereof.

5 generally designates a resilient connect1on between the upper and lower sets of teeth, one of which attachments, comprising the real gist of the invention, is arranged in the same disposition on opposite sides of the sets, as will be understood.

From extended experiments in actual use I find that these elements, for best results as to functioning and comfort, should be constructed substantially as shown, in order to avoid any bulkiness and sharp edges, while at the same time providing for free fiexile motion laterally as Well as vertically thus permitting the normal movements of the lower jaw, and hence a more natural articulation of the teeth.

To this end, a wire, of suitable metal possessing proper length, resiliency and tensile strength, is formed at one end with a fastening eye 6, thence extending a short distance uninterruptedly, Where it is coiled upon itself to provide a second fastening eye 7 from whence it is successively coiled upon itself in fiatwise relation, as indicated by the springy convolutions 8, until at the approach of its other end it is turned in one, or several alined convolutions, as indicated at 9, from which latter position it projects inwardly, at a substantial angle to the periphery thereof, to provide a short lever arm 10, terminating 1n a pivotal eye 11. '12 designates a pivot pin for the pivotal eye of the short lever arm 10, of one of the resilient elements, while 13 designates asimilar pair of spaced pins for the fastening eyes 6 and 7 of the same resilient element, of which latter there is one on each side of the sets of, teeth as before stated.

It is to be noted that the lever 10, the fastening eyes 6 and-7, and the convolutions 8 lie in the same plane, or in parallel planes so closely contiguous as to be substantially the same plane, whereby the structural formation is in the nature of an elongated flat spring, tensioned to spring edgewise along its whole length, with the freely open convolutions 8 serving as intermediately spaced flexile links, as contradistinguished from a helicoidal spring flexed along the axis of its spirals.

Also the manner of their mountlng may be emphasized, with reference to one end being fixedly secured against displacement at two positions 6 and 7 while their other end is connected to the lever 10, through the shiftable springy fulcruming element 9, distant from the pivot in 12, so that in whatever position of the aws, a full clearance space is always provided between the resilient elements and all of the teeth, as

will be obvious from the drawings.

the cheeks, while being freely flexible both.

laterally and vertically. In the second instance, the particular manner of mounting these resilient elements maintains them at all times entirely clear of the zone of the actual teeth themselves, and substantially out of normal contact with any food.

. Finally the two features collectively cooperate, in their respective functionings, to 1nsure free articulation of the teeth, in a natural manner, and without interfering in any way with the muscular action of the jaws or checks, so essentially necessary to properly direct the food to and maintain the same between the masticating surfaces of the teeth.

The pins 12 and 13 are only indicated conventionally in Figs. 1 to 3, but where they are associated with artificial gums, and to provide for facile attachment and detachment of the springs 5, when desired, they are preferably constructed and mounted as shown in detail at Fig. 4, wherein the inner end of the pin is embedded in the arti ficial gum, and is headed as at 14 to provide anchoring means therein. The outer end projects slightly beyond the artificial gum and is threaded, as at 15, to receive an internally threaded finishing cap or button head 16, the associated attaching eyes of the spring element 5 being disposed, substantially as shown or in equivalent fashion, between the head 16 and the gum base 2.

0f course, where one of the sets of teeth are natural, this arrangement would manifestly be altered, but, without encumbering the drawings with unnecessary illustrations for instance, as crowned natural teeth.

In such cases as just stated, the mounting of the levers 10 would naturally be associated with the artificial set, whether upper or lower as occasion might require, which would prevent the levers 10, in theiroscillating movements, from engaging and irritating the natural 'gums by rubbing thereon".

However, where both. sets are artificial, it may be desirable to locate the levers preferably on the upper set, where food is less liable to lodge and obstruct their movements.

Any suitable stops may be provided for limiting the forward and rearward movements of these levers, and where theyare applied to an upper set of teeth, where food is less liable to lodge as just stated, a convenient expedient is to simply provide a triangular recess in the gums, the apex of which is disposed downwardly adjacent the teeth, at which position the,pivot pin 12 is seated, while the forward edge 17, of each recess, limits the forward swing of its lever,

and the rear edge 18 likewise limits the rear-.

ward swing thereof.

In Figs. 1 t0 3, it will be observed that the convolutions 8 are all coiled on the same side of the resilient element 5, and the only difference in the modified form as shown in Figs, 5 and 6 (which may be preferable for 4 providing a flat or more even and smoother face onbo'th sides) is that in thelatter, the alternate convolutions 19 and 21 are formed on opposite sides, as it were, the termination of the rings 19 extending on one .side,

as indicated at 20, while the termination of When both sets of teeth are artificial, as

illustrated, as a. matter of fact they may be inserted in the mouth, while in their closed position as in Fig. 1, for adjustment to the fasteningpins from such a metallic support,

gums. In some cases, however; this might not be so convenient as the manner of insertion indicated at Fig. 3, wherein the resilient elements or springs 5 are substantially distended, with the upper set of teeth spaced rearwardly from the lower set, when the upper set may first be more readily fitted in proper position, after which the lower set is adjusted into place, the resilient elements or springs 5, during the latter movement assuming the positions shown in Fig. 2 until the mouth is fully closed, whereupon the position of the teeth and cooperating elements will appear'as in Fi 1. The spring elements 5 %being of normal straightened out disposition, as in 5 and 6, when the ends thereof are attached to the respective sets of teeth, and the sets are "relatively alined, thesprmgs have assumed a bowed or substantially semi-oval curvature, with their arcs disposed rearwardly, substantially beyond the gumbases and entirely clear of all of the teeth. This so compresses the ends of the springs, that they are tensioned to divergently spring in upwardly and downwardly directions, with their bowed portions, from the supports, after the fashion of the normal jaw hinging cartilage.

These springs belng tempered to a suitable degree of resiliency, it will be obvious that their springing ends will positively hold both sets of teeth adjusted to their complementar gums, against displacement, with a firm yell even or uniform comfortable pressure. v

This uniformity of pressure is partly assured by the proper relative positionin of the detachably secured ends of the springs to the sets of teeth, and in the movement of the lower jaw, from'the closed to the open.

position andvice versa, the degree of motion is compensated for and the evenness or uniformity of pressure equalized and maintained by reason of the particular construction and mounting of the resilient elements 5 as hereinbefore emphasized.

When the jaws are fully closed, as would be'indicated' at Fig. 1, the levers 10 are in their extreme forward positions, the thrust on the upper set of teeth being then in an uplward and w ile that on the lower set is almost d1- rectlydownward. As the lower jaw is moved downwardly, the levers 1O swing. rearwardly as in Fig. 2, the thrust on the upper set of teeth then being approximately m an upwardly direct vertlcal manner, while that on the lower set is in a downwardly and slightly rearwardly direction, the hinging movement of the lower jaw and the lines of thrust being compensated for by the particular mountings of the springs as described.

In such cases, where one set of teeth are natural, the functionin is substantially the same, by slightly mo ifying the arrangement of assembling ashereto ore mentioned,

the spring connectlons being readily attach-' able to and detachable from the threaded stud pins of the crowned natural teeth by screwmg up or unscrewing the head-caps 16, through a flatwise pressure thereon, with an end of the finger or thumb, and giving 7 a slightly'rotary movement thereto.

From the atented art, I am aware of the fact that stiff resilient rubber strips, and

' even helicoidal springs, have heretofore been ositions 9' to 13,. substantially serving as' ulcruming slightly forward direction,

employed, in a manner somewhat analogous to my own invention, but it will be under-' stood that I do not broadly claim the genome idea of resilient bridging connections,-be-

tween upper andlower sets of teeth, artifici'all'y adjusted to the.- gums.

What I claim as new and patentable, is

1. In mechanical dentistry, self adjusting attachments for connecting an artificially set row of teeth to an opposed row of teeth in the mouth of the user, embodying a pair of substantially flat spring elements, adapted to be rearwardly bowed in complemental relation at the opposite outer sides of said rows, each of the said spring elements structurally consisting'of substantially e dgewise dis osed 0 en coils, formed by a strand of resllient wire bent upon itself in a longitudinal series of spaced springy convolutions; in combination with means so operatively connecting the forwardly projectin ends thereof to their complementary a jacent row of teeth as to maintain an unobstructed clearance space, for said bowed spring elements, around said teeth at all positions of movement, substantially as described.

a 2. In mechanical dentistry, self adjusting attachments, for connecting an artificially set row of teeth to an opposed row of teeth in the mouth of the user, embodying a pair of substantially flat spring elements, separately formed of resilient wire bent upon itself in a longitudinal series of substantially edgewise spaced open springy coils,

one end of each of said spring elements being also provided with a short lever arm fulcrumed thereto and projecting inwardly substantially in the plane thereof; in combination with fixed pins on said artificial set 'set row of teeth to an opposed row in the mouth of the user, embodying a pair of substantially flat spring elements, separately formed of resilient 'wire bent upon itself in a longitudinal series of substantially edgewise spaced open sprin coils, one end of each of said spring lbments being also provided with a short lever arm fulcrumed thereto to project inwardly substantially in theplane thereof, and tenninatmg in a pivotal eye; in combination with fixed-pins on said artificial set of teeth for receiving said pivotal eyes, at points distant from said fulcruming positions; a pair of spaced pins fixedly secured to the other row of teeth, and adapted to receive two of the coils of said other ends of said spring elements, all of said pins being screwthreaded at their projecting ends; and internally threaded buttons cooperating with said threaded. pins, the whole arrangement pro- 10 viding for the bowed mounting and functioning of said spring elements, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I afix my signature.

JAMES S. DONNELLAN. 

